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Pollution Prevention

All modes of transportation require the use of state infrastructure and related systems.  These systems include, but are not limited to:  highways and roads open to the public and associated right-of-ways, bridges, vehicles, equipment, park-and-ride lots, transit stations, transportation management systems, intelligent vehicle highway systems, and other ground transportation systems.  PennDOT is able to provide these safe and dependable transportation systems by creating programs and executing projects that provide technical assistance and quality assurance support in the areas of waste management, pollution prevention, and recycling.

Strategic Environmental Management Program (SEMP)

SEMP is an environmental management system that ensures PennDOT employees and business partners continue appropriate environmental stewardship in everyday maintenance practices. Three areas of focus include Winter Services, Stockpile and Garage Management, and Maintenance Operations. SEMP establishes best management practices within maintenance to make certain PennDOT follows the key principles of the Green Plan Policy, protects the environment, conserves resources, and complies with environmental laws and regulations.

Strategic Recycling Program (SRP)

In June 2000, PennDOT collaborated with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to establish the Strategic Recycling Program (SRP).  The SRP is managed under the Strategic Environmental Management Program (SEMP) Section and seeks to:

  1. Achieve the objectives of the Pennsylvania Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction act (Act 1988-101), and
  2. Identify, evaluate, and implement recycling or material beneficial substitution opportunities within its operations throughout the Commonwealth.

The goal of the SRP is for PennDOT to recognize economic and/or engineering advantage and overall environmental enhancement of the Commonwealth through:

  • Reduction of waste generated by PennDOT's operations;
  • Review and revision of existing processes to enable substitution of recycled or recyclable materials/products/co-products for conventional materials;
  • Evaluation of materials that may be recycled in transportation and civil engineering applications; and,
  • Encourage the use of recycled materials through contracting.

To achieve and sustain waste reduction and recycled materials use in civil engineering applications, the SRP established five "key focus areas."  These focus areas are: research, specifications, projects, outreach, and contracting.  These key focus areas are continuously evaluated and enhanced to reflect PennDOT's ongoing efforts to implement sound environmental management practices.

To date, this program has successfully completed and continues to pursue and promote pioneering research, specification development, demonstration projects, and outreach on waste minimization and recycled materials use throughout the Commonwealth.  Examples of how the SRP is successfully accomplishing the goals of the key focus areas are provided in the links below.

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